Visit Pembrokeshire’s Open to All project aims to make Pembrokeshire an exemplary destination which offers great service and facilities to visitors and locals with visible and hidden disabilities.
The Open to All project is supporting tourism and hospitality businesses with training and familiarisation visits to other local businesses which are improving their accessibility for disabled visitors. Visits have included Asheston Eco Barns, Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo and Craig Evan’s Coastal Foraging. Training so far has focused on disability equity and awareness, D/deaf and hard of hearing training with further specific disability training sessions later in the year.
The project is also promoting good practice, more accessible websites, and will provide an online toolkit of resources for the local tourism and hospitality sector. Over the next year Visit Pembrokeshire will be developing an online map showing accessible facilities, accommodation, attractions, activities and accessible walks etc.
Open to All project manager Corinne Cariad says, ‘We’ve heard from disabled people that they want to be included in improving the visitor experience in Pembrokeshire and we’re pleased to be partnering with local and national disabled user groups and organisations such as the RNIB and Pembrokeshire Sign and Share. We realise that making building and infrastructure improvements can take time. It’s often the simple things which can improve the experience for disabled visitors - such as asking if and what help visitors need and making people feel welcomed rather than a burden.’
Pembrokeshire has a variety of businesses that are leading the way in accessible tourism. The motivation to be more inclusive is often driven by wanting to do the right thing; however these businesses report the benefits to be more than they expected. From fully booked accommodation to repeat visitors who really appreciate the efforts made.
In south Pembrokeshire there are a number of Changing Places Toilets for people with profound physical disabilities. Located at Coppet Hall beach, Salterns Car Park in Tenby, Tesco in Pembroke Dock and at Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo. With others in the pipeline to be built in north Pembrokeshire.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park operates the Beach Wheelchairs and All-Terrain Equipment hire service. They are located around the county and can be pre booked online Beach Wheelchairs and All-Terrain Equipment.
For more details about the Open to All project Pembrokeshire - Open to All project (visitpembrokeshire.com), and to get involved, contact the project manager Corinne Cariad at [email protected]
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
